1. fling, launch, send. Throw,cast,pitch,toss imply projecting something through the air. Throw is the general word, often used with an adverb that indicates direction, destination, etc.: to throw a rope to someone, the paper away.Cast is a formal word for throw, archaic except as used in certain idiomatic expressions (to cast a net, black looks; cast down; the compound broadcast, etc.): to cast off a boat.Pitch implies throwing with some force and definite aim: to pitch a baseball. To toss is to throw lightly, as with an underhand or sidewise motion, or to move irregularly up and down or back and forth: to toss a bone to a dog.

Not the usual Old English word for "to throw" (weorpan, related to warp (v.) was common in this sense). The sense evolution may be via the notion of whirling a missile before throwing it. The sense of "put by force" (e.g. throw in jail) is first recorded 1560; that of "to confuse, flabbergast" is from 1844; that of "lose deliberately" is from 1868.

To throw the book at (someone) is 1932, from notion of judge sentencing a criminal from a law book full of possible punishments. To throw (one's) hat in the ring "issue a challenge," especially to announce one's candidacy, first recorded 1917. To throw up "vomit" is first recorded 1732.

throw

n.

"act of throwing," 1520s, from throw (v.). Wrestling sense is first attested 1819.

throw

To confuse and incapacitate; amaze; confound; flabbergast: When he called me that it just about threw me(1844+)

To lose a game, race, etc, deliberately; tank: Basketball players confess that they have accepted bribes to ''throw'' games(1868+)

(also pitch or toss) To be host or hostess at; arrange for: The president has to throw him a luncheon/ One of his assistants actually pitched a party for me/ Kendall tossed a cocktail party for a group of us visiting writers(1922+)

The Dictionary of American Slang, Fourth Edition by Barbara Ann Kipfer, PhD. and Robert L. Chapman, Ph.D.Copyright (C) 2007 by HarperCollins Publishers.Cite This Source

Idioms and Phrases with throw in

throw in

1.

Insert or introduce into the course of something, interject, as in He always threw in a few jokes to lighten the atmosphere.
[ c. 1700
]

2.

Add something with no additional charge, as in The salesman said he'd throw in the carpet padding.
[ Second half of 1600s
]

3.

throw in with. Enter into association with, as in His friends warned him against throwing in with the notorious street gang.
[ Second half of 1800s
]

Also see: cast one's lot and the subsequent idioms beginning with throw in.